Great West Migration

By the 1860’s more than half of the American population was located west of the Appalachian Mountains. This area was known as the Far West or as many nineteenth century Americans called it, “The Great West.” This migration of people was caused by the West’s connection to political, transportation, and financial progress. All three of these aspects were extremely important in American migration to the Great West and they helped shape the structure for America as it is today. The Political need for new classes caused by industrialism and abolition of slavery, the opening of jobs and new business involving financial situations and the boost of transportation that would expand almost everything. Politically America had just abolished slavery, and began a new age of industrialism, which created large political changes within America. The strive to create a new class began as many Americans and new immigrants along

Now that the transcontinental railroad had been built, transportation time was minimized drastically and it was now year round. This allowed people to travel at a very fast rate, an extremely safe travel, and at any time of the year. The speed and minimized price allowed for more people to come to the West. Not only did people come but also supply’s and food so there were no worries involving famine or despair. Transportation innovations reduced cost and increased the speed of moving goods, helping to create a national market. The transportation of goods over long distances to the various regions required a supporting infrastructure, which maintained the growth of market towns where merchants, bankers, warehousemen, retailers, and other middlemen provided the services needed to move the goods from producers to customers. The transportation revolution pushed America through the process of making an entire continent into a single cultural and economic